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Sketch W/Photoshop

It was a beautiful day in East London last weekend so I decided to take a walk down to Shoreditch and sniff out some caffeine based delights. I was meeting a friend who was travelling into London by train so I snapped up the opportunity to really take my time.

When we’d eventually met up we slid into the Batman Cape and Cowl Exhibition on Old Street and had a little potter round before finding an absolutely delightful little coffee house. As we stepped through the outer grey façade we were met by a barrage of colour, a rainbow graphic wrapped its way round the room. Along the left hand side the wall had been covered with the loyalty cards of regular customers, a very homely touch.

I went for an iced coffee in contrast to my usual tastes and was not disappointed, who’d have thought that an iced Americano could give a man so much joy?! We sat down on the recycled school furniture facing out of the coffee shop, it was a real people watcher’s outpost as you are slightly raised from the street due to the step up, you can gaze lazily out at the world, it would be a fantastic place to do work (if out of office working was a luxury I possessed).

The tables were reclaimed too with a dropped ceiling of services overhead, the cabling of the filament pendant bulbs was arranged nicely to form a kind of urban chandelier. We must have sat there for a couple of hours, both drawing neither of us talking, but it didn’t require it. A group of Greek students were the only other customers who sat themselves by the door, jabbering to each other; combined with the uncharacteristic weather the impression generated was of a lazy afternoon in a continental city.

The chill wave vibes of the music played and the relaxed attitude of the staff made the whole experience that extra bit more special.

 THE VERDICT: I enjoyed this place so much that unfortunately I’m unwilling to share its location, since I will be going back there a lot; I don’t want my haven ruined by the hordes of fans flocking in pilgrimage. Sorry I’m not sorry.

Design: 8/10
Atmosphere: 8.5/10
Coffee: 9/10

Turntables

Sketch and Photoshop

Website: http://www.turntablesldn.co.uk/      
Location: 117 WALLIS RD, E9 5LN

Archaic trembling voices of old would tell you Sunday is the day of rest yet the hustle and bustle of modern life simply does not allow it, from Westminster to Watford the weekday grinders fill up their weekends with just as much, if not more chaos than in the working week. A few hundred yards from my bedroom I could hear the click-clack of heels and rumblings of inebriated conversation already and it was barely 1 O’clock.  I decided to do what any sensible person would and seek out my own private haven where I could enjoy the so-called “day of rest”.

After enjoying Street Feast the previous weekend I wanted to pursue the kind of open air festival vibe that east London seems to thrive upon and low an behold; a stone throw from Hackney Wick station I found Turntables. It has the usual festival tent décor with a nice edge added by its reclaimed timber shacks and washing line style bunting; imagine an old fashioned jubilee party thrown by a bunch of students that live on a barge and you wouldn’t be far off.

Quite perfectly, the location sits right on the canal and there begins its tranquillity. mankind has always enjoyed the company of gently flowing water so it really is a fantastic spot. All of the above had sold the event to me entirely so after telling my housemate all about it she decided we should go along. Finding it was pretty smooth, Sunday is reggae day so the sound of steel drums over a fairly impressive soundsystem paired with the smoke of the barbeque run by the infamous “white men can’t jerk” rather pulled us in. We naturally ate and with only a £10 budget one drink and food is all I could afford but as a free event I didn’t mind all that much.

We sat up in the hut on red bean bags where we had a nice view across the party, there was something beautiful about it. The design was shoddy but had a handmade quality to it that helped its cause; it was a party for the people by the people. We sat for hours listening to the music and being at peace.

It’s not all laid back and relaxed though, the club shapes is right next door and on a Saturday night I’m told the area is alive with music and chaos. Not my cup of coffee but it is definitely worth checking out if you like your warehouse raves.

VERDICT: If you’ve forgotten what a day of rest feels like and don’t mind some sweet rhythms; a little barbecue smoke and pissing in an outhouse - Turntables is for you. Great food, beautiful atmosphere, be prepared to lose a day!  

Design: 3/10

Atmosphere: 10/10

Coffee: N/A 

Dalston Street Feast

Street Feast Dalston Yard

Website: www.streetfeastlondon.com
Location: Hartwell Street, Dalston London E8 3DU

If you’ve ever pottered down Dalston lane you’ll know you simply can’t miss the giant lettering of the Street Feast sign set back amongst the buildings. I myself only live round the corner and had noticed it and made a mental note that I seriously needed to get down there; having been caught up in the open air charm of Digbeth Dining Club in my hometown of Birmingham this was always going to be a must for me.

Despite my excitement to go along, I was aware that unlike the theatre or coffee shops, the bazaar-like marketplace of Street Feast is a novelty that would be better enjoyed with friends and on last Saturday night I met up with a couple of old faces who also happened to be living in the area. We went along about 10 o’clock but I’d recommend getting down there as early as possible since it will cost you £3 entry after 7pm. Walking up to it the place already had an energy, something grungy rang through the air; cars pulled up either side of the street and the presence of burly bouncers reminded me of an illegal Gabba rave in the 90’s. The sound hit us first, light chatter and the hiss of grills firing away inside the old warehouse, needless to say we were ecstatic.

I’ll admit I’m not a big fan of street food in a permanent setting, for me the very essence of street food is in its pop-up nature. You feel exclusive in what you’re enjoying and it carries with it all the excitement and buzz of a festival vibe; something that Dalston Yard delivers expertly. The range of food there was fantastic you can literally find something for any taste you may require. The whole area is massive, playfully lit by strings of festival lights and the various signs of each vendor and collectively the space had a rawness that reminded me of Kreuzberg’s nightlife.

The glass roof of the old factory generates the perfect level of visual interest so as not to detract from the excitement of the stalls; the building stands skeletal and unmoved allowing the flow of people and theatrics of the chefs at work to provide energy. Even the slightly peculiar corridor toilet arrangements had its charm (I won’t give away any spoilers but would urge you experience it for yourself).

We drank multiple pints of beer and sat down to enjoy what turned out to be the finest grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever laid my chops on. Yes I will admit when you’re surrounded by noodle bars, jerk chicken, burgers and all manner of goodness, going for a grilled cheese seems a little mundane by comparison but you must understand in my eyes the partnership of cheese and bread is the Adam and Eve of my culinary enjoyment.    

VERDICT: Busy but certainly not over crowded, we soaked up the fantastic atmosphere discussing preferences with other diners as we went. I would stick this on Matt’s essential list, if you like food, beer and all things urban, you’ve probably already been. My advice if you haven’t, get yourself there before the 26^th September or you will forever regret it.

NOTE: Try the grilled cheese, no if’s not buts

 

Design: 7/10
Atmosphere: 10/10
Coffee: N/A (unfortunately my taste buds were distracted by more alcoholic matters)

Cafe Route

Mixed Media Sketch

Website: www.caferoute.co.uk                              

Location: Unit A Gaumont Tower, Dalston Square

When I initially came down to view what turned out to be my flat me and my Mum popped in here for a spot of lunch in the midday sunshine. The first thing that is worth mentioning is the surrounding area, at the centre of Dalston’s newest housing development, the open space concrete square is a chilled out alternative to the sometimes gritty side of Dalston further towards Kingstanding. The food and service were great; a fantastic display of much of the food on offer stretches the full length of the café in a kind of market stall format. The waitress that served us had perfect command over the tables and no one appeared to be left waiting, the lovely atmosphere (if helped a little by the weather) was perfectly balanced in the over spilling nature of the seating. Four rows of benches protrude out of the Café into the square making it a very inviting spot to sit and enjoy a coffee or lunch in the afternoon.

I returned again for a visit because I was interested to see what it would be like later in the evening and I was not disappointed; the beautiful rustic organic looking pendant lights illuminate the surf shack style façade inside the building creating a gentle glow that can be seen from across the square. The vaulted ceiling becomes an acoustic honey pot of gentle conversation; creating enough buzz to present a thriving popular café environment without invading the privacy of the individual.

If you choose to sit yourself outside you can pick up the yelps and chuckles of passers-by and gather up the eaves of conversations drifting into the square, all gently serenaded with the percussion of the fountain just yards away. The way this café is able to seamlessly be both café and restaurant is something to be marveled at, it appears to slide into which ever atmosphere is required.

VERDICT: whether you want to watch the world go by, eat some great food, pick up a quick bite or meet for a drink near the station, Café Route will serve your needs. The carefully executed design combines the Italian plaza with the Turkish market all the while whispering the homely goodness of an aunt’s pantry. Perhaps it doesn’t break boundaries or offer something for trendy shoreditchers to whistle about but as a package, everything it does it does well.

Design: 8/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Coffee: 7/10

   

The Arcola Theatre

Sketch of box office edited in Photoshop

Website: www.arcolatheatre.com

Location: 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL

Disclaimer: Most of my posts are unlikely to be this long but since this is the grand premiere and involves a play I had to dedicate some extra time.

On my first night here, I pretty much just passed out after I’d unpacked and it wasn’t until the next day that I ventured out of my cave to explore. I took a fairly leisurely walk round the local area before I stumbled into a fairly uninspiring arched entrance way with huge factory doors painted grey. Positioned at a jaunty angle outside was an A-board with the words Arcola Theatre scrawled across it in chalk and from the inside the gentle laughter of a young woman spilled out onto the street. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to pop in initially as there were groceries to be obtained.

However later that evening, I was sat in my room trawling through events when I found highly acclaimed “Crouch. Touch. Pause. Engage.” As an ex-rugby player I’d followed the story of Gareth Thomas in my teenage years so when it came to light it was showing at the Arcola that night I had to go along. There were two tickets left so I was stuck going alone to seat C28 on the end of the row stage right. After almost being late for the 7.30 showing (I had to switch the oven off with my dinner still inside) I flew up Dalston lane and made it with two minutes to spare, still with no idea what to expect inside.

The interior was an object of real intrigue, the stripped down skeletal form of the former paint factory had been maintained. A bare-bones aesthetic littered with prefabricated OSB board elements that had been positioned to crudely generate a box office, coffee shop and upstairs; a bar. Ceiling elements were visible, lighting was industrial and task driven, the box office even had the foam insulation exposed, there was a fantastic parallel with the studio built sets of old television shows, and I began to see that in its honesty the Arcola holds its majesty.

The Arcola has two performance areas called “studios” (which in my opinion presents a beautiful acknowledgement to the level of work that goes on behind the scenes in theatre i.e. when we see a play it is not merely a piece on a stage to be admired but an extensive network of people that have been slaving away for months.) The performance I had gone to see was in Studio 2. The makeshift seating reminded me of a sporting grandstand, exposed structural elements was again a theme, but what really struck me was the intimacy, the actors were on the same level as the audience no more than one foot away thereby destroying the traditional elevated stage or any notion of a hierarchal relationship within the theatre.

I’d sat myself next to someone else who appeared to be on their own, very individual in his appearance and spoke in a manner that made me re asses my dull Birmingham drone. I later found out it was Lloyd Trott of the Royal Academy of Dramatic arts and author of the Actors and Performers Year Book (2015 & 2016 editions), so naturally I held my tongue when it came to the discussion of theatre. The performance itself was fantastic, spine tingling at times and at the end of a long tour expert in its delivery, afterwards Lloyd was kind enough to invite me to meet the writer Robin Soans along with some of his students. They were all lovely people, very inviting and wished me well on my ventures while in London, a few Camden Hells later I finally went home to enjoy my dinner.

VERDICT: The Arcola is a fantastic project fully deserving of all its support and credit. It breaks the archaic nature of the pompous theatre with its stripped down honest appearance and allows the whole building to become a stage in itself. The coffee was fairly average but what the Arcola lacks in luxury it makes up for in atmosphere! I’m blessed to live so close to such a brilliant venue.

Design:  6/10 

Atmosphere: 8.5/10 

Coffee: 5/10